975

Here ended

his earthly dreams

Edgar, of Angles king;

chose him other light,

serene and lovely,

spurning this frail abode,

a life that mortals

here call lean

he quitted with disdain.

July the month,

by all agreed

in this our land,

whoever were

in chronic lore

correctly taught;

the day the eighth,

when Edgar young,

rewarder of heroes,

his life -- his throne resigned.

Edward his son,

unwaxen child,

of earls the prince,

succeeded then

to England's throne.

Of royal race

ten nights before

departed hence

Cyneward the good

prelate of manners mild.

Well known to me

in Mercia then,

how low on earth

God's glory fell

on every side:

chaced from the land,

his servants fled,

their wisdom scorned;

much grief to him

whose bosom glow'd

with fervent love

of great Creation's Lord!

Neglected then

the God of wonders,

victor of victors,

monarch of heaven,

his laws by man transgressed!

Then too was driv'n

Oslac beloved

an exile far

from his native land

over the rolling waves,

over the ganet-bath,

over the water-throng,

the abode of the whale,

fair-hair'd hero,

wise and eloquent,

of home bereft!

Then too was seen,

high in the heavens,

the star on his station,

that far and wide

wise men call

lovers of truth

and heav'nly lore

"cometa" by name.

Widely was spread

God's vengeance then

throughout the land,

and famine scour'd the hills.

May heaven's guardian,

the glory of angels,

avert these ills,

and give us bliss again;

that bliss to all

abundance yields

from earth's choice fruits,

throughout this happy isle.

(Ingram, p.96-98)